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    World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH)

    Also known as WFMH, World Federation of Mental Health

    The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is an international membership organisation founded in 1948 to promote mental health and better care for people with mental disorders.[1] It runs World Mental Health Day, which in 2026 took the theme "Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change".[2][3]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated WikiMental health, Health and medicine, World affairs
    Key facts

    The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is a non-governmental federation that works on mental health awareness, prevention and care. It was founded in 1948 and is best known for running World Mental Health Day each 10 October.[1][2] This page is general information, not medical advice; talk to a clinician about your own health.

    History

    WFMH traces its origins to the International Committee for Mental Hygiene, which agreed in 1947 to change its name to WFMH.[4] According to the federation, WHO’s first Director-General, the Canadian psychiatrist George Brock Chisholm, suggested creating it as a link between grassroots mental health organisations and UN agencies.[5] The founding resolution was drawn up at a London congress on 18-19 August 1948.[4]

    The federation began with member societies from 46 countries and says it now has members and contacts in over 90 countries.[6]

    Mission and activities

    WFMH states that its mission is to promote mental health awareness, prevention of mental disorders, advocacy and recovery-focused best practice worldwide.[7] Its activities include World Mental Health Day, its World Congresses and a network of WFMH Collaborating Centers.[2]

    Its strategic plan, published in April 2026, includes supporting policies for community mental health and deinstitutionalization and developing programmes on suicide prevention and substance use.[8] The federation also follows UN processes. Its secretary general reported on mental health and noncommunicable disease events held during the UN General Assembly in September 2026.[9]

    World Mental Health Day 2026

    For 2026 WFMH chose the theme “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, which WHO also used in its campaign.[3] WFMH asked organisations worldwide to hold events on the theme and to support WHO’s initiative on deinstitutionalization.[10] Its campaign site lists WHO resources, including a framework for meaningful engagement and guidance on peer support.[11] See World Mental Health Day 2026 for the day’s announcements.

    Leadership

    WFMH lists Sabine Bährer-Kohler as president for 2025-2027 and Tsuyoshi Akiyama as secretary general for 2026-2028.[12]

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    Questions readers ask

    What is the World Federation for Mental Health?

    WFMH is an international membership organisation founded in 1948. It says its mission is to promote mental health awareness, prevention of mental disorders, advocacy and recovery-focused best practice worldwide.[1][7]

    Who started World Mental Health Day?

    World Mental Health Day is one of WFMH's activities, and the federation sets each year's theme. WHO carries the theme in its own campaign.[2][3]

    How is WFMH related to WHO?

    According to WFMH, WHO's first Director-General, George Brock Chisholm, suggested creating the federation as a link between grassroots mental health groups and UN agencies.[5]

    Who leads WFMH?

    WFMH lists Sabine Bährer-Kohler as president for 2025-2027 and Tsuyoshi Akiyama as secretary general for 2026-2028.[12]

    Sources

    · 12 claims from 2 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is an international membership organisation founded in 1948. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    2. [2]

      WFMH's activities include World Mental Health Day, its World Congresses and WFMH Collaborating Centers. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    3. [3]

      The theme of World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2026 is "Lived experiences heard - real voices, real change", set by the World Federation for Mental Health and carried by WHO. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    4. [4]

      WFMH says the resolution founding it was drawn up at the London Congress on 18-19 August 1948, and that it grew out of the International Committee for Mental Hygiene, which agreed in 1947 to change its name. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    5. [5]

      According to WFMH, WHO's first Director-General, the Canadian psychiatrist George Brock Chisholm, suggested creating the federation as a link between grassroots mental health groups and UN agencies. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    6. [6]

      WFMH began with member societies from 46 countries and says it now has members and contacts in over 90 countries. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    7. [7]

      WFMH states that its mission is to promote mental health awareness, prevention of mental disorders, advocacy and recovery-focused best practice worldwide. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    8. [8]

      WFMH's strategic plan, published in April 2026, includes supporting policies for community mental health and deinstitutionalization, and developing programmes for suicide prevention and substance use. confirmedas of 2026-04-16

      • WFMH Strategic Plan · World Federation for Mental Health · 2026-04-16 · Priorities (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    9. [9]

      WFMH's secretary general reported on side events at the 81st UN General Assembly in September 2026, including an NCD Alliance meeting on 21 September on sustaining the response to noncommunicable diseases and mental health. confirmedas of 2026-09-28

    10. [10]

      WFMH asked organisations worldwide to hold World Mental Health Day 2026 events on the theme while supporting WHO's initiative on deinstitutionalization. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    11. [11]

      For World Mental Health Day 2026 the official WFMH campaign site points to WHO resources including the WHO framework for meaningful engagement and a WHO QualityRights module on peer support groups. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    12. [12]

      WFMH lists Sabine Bährer-Kohler as president for 2025-2027 and Tsuyoshi Akiyama as secretary general for 2026-2028. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Apr 11, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH)." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/world-federation-for-mental-health

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